Animals have been an indispensable part of warfare and combat since ancient times.
The question is: how do we honor those animals that display exceptional acts of valor during wartime?
By 1922 the PDSA had opened seven clinics across London, treating up to 70,000 animals a year.
Further success allowed the PDSA to open their first clinic outside London in Salford in 1923.
Since then, the medal has been compared to the Victoria Cross,.
Between 1943 and 1949, the medal was awarded 54 times.
Its recipients included mostly pigeons (32 times), followed by dogs (18 times).
Three horses and a single cat have also received the award.
The awarding of the medal was discontinued after the war ended, but was revived in 2000.
Sergeant Recklesswas a Mongolian pack horse for the United States Marine Corps during the 1950s and 60s.
In 2016, she was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal for her service.
White Visionwas a female homing pigeon of the RAF.
The planes radio misfunctioned and the ditched pilots were unable to report their location.
So White Vision was released with a message indicating the site of the crash.
Both pigeons were awarded the Dickin medal.
In addition, she survived a Luftwaffe bomber attack on her Exeter pigeon loft.
Joewas a pigeon of the United States Army Pigeon Service.
Now they were in danger of getting caught up in friendly fire if the attack went ahead.
G. I. Joe was released with the message.
G. I. Joe saved the lives of at least 100 men.
G. I. Joe receiving the Dickin Medal.
